By Dan Ambrose: WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney is convinced that Teofimo Lopez doesn’t feel like he’s truly the undisputed lightweight champion because he hasn’t faced him yet.
Haney is looking past his opponent for this Saturday, Yuriorkis Gamboa, and focusing on Teofimo. Gamboa (30-3, 18 KOs) will be looking to expose the 21-year-old Haney as a product of hype when the two battle it out on DAZN at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida.
Haney’s ego appears to be a little out of whack from he’s shown inside the ring and what he’s accomplished since turning pro. You hate to see Haney get brought back down to earth, but there’s a good chance that’s going to happen when he takes on Teofimo soon.
Teofimo (16-0, 12 KOs) just finished beating the #1 lightweight in the division in Vasily Lomachenko, and it would be a huge drop off for him to face the less skilled 21-year-old Haney (24-0, 15 KOs), who had huge problems winning his last fight against Alfredo Santiago in November of last year.
Haney’s promoters at Matchroom Boxing are all for him taking on Teofimo. They’re not thinking of letting him pick up more experience against some of the quality contenders before he faces Teofimo, which could be a mistake.
Haney: Teofimo doesn’t feel right without fighting me
“He kept saying that he wanted to fight me because he gains from fighting me,” said Haney during Wednesday’s news conference in talking about Teofimo Lopez.
“It’s something where he doesn’t feel right without fighting me for the undisputed for all the belts.
He knows he’s not undisputed without fighting me. Whether he says email, he didn’t get the email. I do know that I’ll be victorious against him. I don’t know how the fight will play out, but I know that I’ll win,” Haney said in predicting a victory over Teofimo Lopez.
“I am willing to fight for the undisputed for all the belts against Teofimo.”
“There will be a lot more people watching Devin Haney this Saturday than watched Leo Santa Cruz and Tank last week,” said Eddie Hearn.
“I feel great at 135 right now,” said Haney. “Of course, I look forward to going to 140 eventually, but there are so many big fights to be made at 135. I’m willing to stay here for a little bit longer,” said Haney.
Teofimo doesn’t appear to be too concerned with Haney because he hasn’t shown the type of power and talent that he should worry about. The guy that Teofimo has to worry about is WBA 135-lb champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. That’s a fighter with the speed, power, and ability to give Teofimo a real fight.
Devin wants to make a statement against Gamboa
“I want to go in there and make a statement and beat Gamboa worse than he’s ever been beaten before,” Haney.
“He’s been in with a lot of top guys and given them their hardest tests, but to me, I want to go in there and pitch a shutout. I want the world to know I’m on a totally different level.
He’s a very dangerous opponent, so I have to be mindful of that, especially when he’s hurt. That would be amazing if I go in there, and I knock Gamboa out, especially if it ends early.
But I know Gamboa is a crafty opponent. He’s not going to go out easy. He’s going to fight for the finish. So I have to be mindful. I want to go out there and make a statement. Gamboa won’t have any success with me.
“He went in there and landed big shots with Crawford, and he landed big shots on Tank. But with Devin Haney, I don’t want him to have any success.
“I want to knockout Gamboa. If it happens, it happens. But I’m going to give it my best to entertain the people.
Devin should forget about trying to make a statement against the 38-year-old Gamboa and focus on winning. Haney doesn’t have the power or the speed to make a statement against Gamboa. If he tries to get the 2004 Olympic gold medalist Gamboa out of there, it could end badly.